Resident, guide dog not having their way at Burger King

ROYCELYN BASTIAN

Published
7:00 pm CDT, Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Vickie Albrecht is both legally blind and deaf and relies on her companion to be her eyes and ears.

The local woman and her parents decided to get a quick breakfast at Burger King located on FM 1960 and Highway 59 in Humble. As her dad ordered the food, the restaurant manager told her the dog was not allowed in the building.

"All three of us stated at the same time that she is a service guide dog, but the manager did not want to hear it. She kept saying Cleo's was not allowed in the restaurant. In the past, after I explained what Cleo's is, I usually don't have a problem, but this was not the case at Burger King. This was the first time that I ever felt discriminated against," she stated.

Albrecht was so upset that she was discriminated against that she filed a complaint with the Burger King corporate office in Florida and with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"I am angry that this happened to me because I was within my rights, but I didn't press the issue because I was with my parents. Cleo's had on her harness and I tried to show her my identification but she did not want to hear it. I just want people, businesses to become educated on service animals so this will not happen to anyone else," Albrecht said.

In response to the incident, Burger King's vice president of communications, Keva Silversmith said, "There was a miscommunication with the customer and we sincerely regret it. Our policy is to provide the best customer service to all of our guests. We welcome guests and their service animals into our restaurants as long as the animals are well-behaved."

Albrecht bought her yellow Labrador retriever from Guiding Eyes for the Blind and the two have been inseparable for almost a year. The resident flew to New York to undergo intense training with Cleo's to learn how to depend on a service dog.

"A great slogan that I tell people all the time is, 'I can take my dog guide any place you can take your eyes.' Cleo's is more than a service animal, she is like family. Since I had her, I have experienced more freedom and have more confidence in myself," Albrecht said.

The ADA requires businesses like Burger King to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed. The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.

At this time, no apologies have been made to Albrecht, but the matter is currently being handled with the restaurant's customer relations department.

For more information about service animals, visit Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Web site at www.guidingeyes.org